2015 Chicago Auto Show Preview

By TheDrivingLife February 11, 2015 | Comments Off

The 2015 Chicago Auto Show will kick off this tomorrow at McCormick Place. This year’s show will showcase the current emphasis on trucks and crossovers, including world debuts of the 2016 Honda Pilot, 2016 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2016 Acura RDX. Here’s a preview of the debuts…

Considered to be “one of the quickest and most fuel-efficient V6-powered entry-luxury SUVs,” Acura will unveil the new 2016 Acura RDX with a list of notable improvements to its performance, styling and comfort and technology features.

Chevrolet will introduce the refreshed 2016 Equinox at this year’s auto show. According to GM, the Equinox had the best January ever with almost 20,000 units sold – a 34% increase compared to January 2014. January’s record sales only adds to the vehicle’s past five years of success.

As an added bonus, the black-on-black-on-black Silverado Midnight will make its public debut at McCormick Place. With the 2015 Silverado Z71 as the base, the Midnight special edition includes an all-black front end; 18-inch black painted alloy wheels with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires; and the Chevy bow tie logo on the front and rear in black, of course. According to the brand, nearly 5,000 Midnight special editions will be manufactured for the 2015 model year and dealers can start ordering this month.

Additionally, Chevrolet announced that the 2015 Colorado GearOn™ Special Edition will make its public appearance in Chicago. The 2015 Colorado GearOn™ Special Edition features an easily configured accessory system that includes cargo tie-down rings, the GearOn bars package, and the divider package for mounting everything from kayaks to bikes.

This morning, Ford announced that it will unveil the Explorer-based 2016 Police Interceptor Utility vehicle. Introduced in 2012, the Police Interceptor Utility became the best-selling police vehicle in America, making up 55 percent of the U.S. law enforcement’s vehicle market. The new Police Interceptor Utility was developed with help from the Ford Police Advisory Board and features a new and enhanced instrument panel and electrical system, new headlamps, and a new front and rear design. The Police Interceptor Utility includes a standard six-speed transmission that with a Pursuit Mode option programmed for law enforcement use.

The all-new 2016 Honda Pilot SUV will be unveiled to the world on Feb. 12 at 9:30 a.m. The completely reengineered 2016 Pilot will serve as a strong contender in the mainstream three-row SUV segment – a segment the brand claims to have helped create.

According to Autoblog, Hyundai will unveil an updated version of the 2016 Elantra GT and a special edition of the Veloster.

Kia announced that it will debut the rugged Trail’ster electric all-wheel drive (e-AWD) concept. The “bold off-roader was conceived by Kia’s California design a studio and built for city dwellers seeking the ultimate suburban escape,” the brand said in an official release.

Mazda announced the revealing of a 2016 MX-5 accessories design concept and MX-5 merchandise design concepts from the brand’s upcoming Heritage Collection in an official release.

Nissan will show an all-electric, zero-emissions Nissan LEAF featuring innovative nano-paint technology that repels dirt, water and oils by creating “a protective layer of air between the paint and environment, effectively stopping water and road spray from leaving dirty marks on LEAF’s surface,” the brand said. The coating, called Ultra-Ever Dry ®, is marketed and sold by UltraTech International Inc. Nissan is the first automaker to use this technology on a vehicle.

The brand also announced that the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO will also make its first public appearance after its world debut in Nissan’s Super Bowl XLIX “With Dad” commercial. The GT-R LM NISMO will serve as the main focus of the NISMO display, which will also feature the 370Z NISMO, JUKE NISMO, and the 600-horsepower Nissan GT-R NISMO.

FiatChrysler briefly announced that the Ram Truck Brand will unveil a new vehicle at this year’s show, after it presented the Ram 1500 Rebel version at Detroit’s show last month.

Toyota will debut special editions of the Camry and Corolla. According to the brand’s official release, the Camry Special Edition will feature a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission as well as several styling and technology updates. The Corolla Special Edition will include styling, performance and technology updates, including 17-inch alloy wheels with gloss black finish; steering wheel paddle shifters; and the Smart Key System with pushbutton start.

Kept under wraps, Toyota announced the world debut of an all-new 2016 Avalon that “will light up the Chicago Auto Show” on Feb. 12.

Stay tuned as the Driving Life will be providing live coverage from McCormick Place on Feb. 12.

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